4 Northern Hemisphere refs for Boks

Cape Town - The Springboks’ four group stage matches at this year’s Rugby World Cup will all be refereed by Northern Hemisphere referees.

Frenchman Jerome Garces will referee South Africa’s first Pool B match against Japan in Brighton on September 19.

Their second match against Samoa in Birmingham on September 26 will be refereed by England’s Wayne Barnes, while the third match against Scotland in Newcastle on October 3 will be handled by Welshman Nigel Owens.

Another Frenchman, Pascal Gauzere, will referee the Boks’ final group match against the United States in London on October 7.

Should South Africa win their group, they could likely face either England, Wales or Australia in the quarter-finals, with a possible semi-final against defending champions New Zealand looming.

Pool B referee appointments for 2015 Rugby World Cup